Enniskerry stroll past batling challenge of Sacred Heart FC

at Berryfield

Sensing another, the home side doubled their lead on forty minutes. It was Byrne who struck again when he once again combined nicely with Sean Brennan to finish neatly past the onrushing ‘keeper.

The second-half finished 2-0 with Enniskerry fairly content with their dominant display, yet the home team may have been slightly disappointed to not of been further ahead.

Sacred Heart started the second-half in better fashion and kept some tidy possession without ever really threatening. An injury to defender Sean Lee disrupted their momentum as the Sacred player was carried off early on in the second-half.

The game opened up after the injury and Enniskerry once again took this tie by the scruff of the neck, although Sacred Heart occasionally threatened on the break.

Despite controlling the possession, it took the home team a while to find a third goal and finish the game off. When the third goal eventually came, two more flowed in quick succession.

On 62 minutes, Jay Byrne completed his hatrick, unmarked from a whipped Glen Fitzsimons corner, the striker powerfully headed past the goalkeeper to well and truly put his side in the driving seat.

On another night, Byrne could have had a double hatrick, the Enniskerry midfield worked tirelessly to find their striker in the right positions, on 70 minutes the roles were reversed when Byrne teed up Corrie Tracey. Byrne’s cross met Tracey’s head and the ‘keeper did well to position himself into a comfortable save.

After coming so close to scoring moments earlier, Tracey was keen to get himself on the scoresheet and just five minutes later, he scored the goal of the game. Tracey’s thumping volley from 25 yards out smacked off the crossbar and landed goal side of the line to make it 4-0.

Enniskerry missed a host of chances to make it five and they had to wait until the fifth and final minute of extra time to complete the rout when substitute Damian Ford finished from four yards out from a Jay Byrne rebounder.

This was an impressive win for Enniskerry who gave opportunities to many under 18 players who were keen to impress.

Jay Byrne’s hatrick secured him the honour of man of the match while credit too must be given to the plucky away side who started with a number of youth players, Lee Yates worked tirelessly in the Sacred midfield and didn’t deserve to be on the losing side.

Most importantly, the North Wicklow team are through the next round of the cup and will be keeping a keen eye on the draw.

Enniskerry Youth Club: 2. Karl Peacock, 3. Darragh Spain,4. Cian McGoldrick, 5. Guy King Hall, 6. Corrie Treacy, 7. Glen Fitzsimons, 8. Sean Brennan, 9. Jay Byrne, 10 David McDonald, 11, Gareth Fitzsimons, 12. Oisin Hennessy

Subs: 13. Damo Forde, 14. Alan Acres, 15. James Conway, 16. Evan Brack, 17. Luke Massey.

Sacred Heart: 1. Darren Driscol, 2. Ryan Butler, 3. Shay Lee, 4. Ryan McCabe, 5. Micheal Dunne, Adam Towell, 7. Lee Yates, 8. Daniel 9. Eoin Devroux, 10. Jack Brady, 11. Martin Collins,

Subs: 12. Stephen King, 13. Carl Bracken, 14. Jason O’Keefe, 15. Phillip Walsh.

Referee: James Keating